Landslide Dams Budhi Gandaki River, Unleashing Devastating Floods Across Nepal

In the early hours of October 11, a sudden dry landslide slammed into the Budhi Gandaki River near the tiny hamlet of Chumnubri, about 100 km west of Kathmandu. The debris formed an impromptu dam, and when the water finally breached it, a wall of muddy flood surged downstream.

Villages along the riverbanks in Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan and the two Nawalparasi districts were caught off guard. Some houses, built on narrow terraces, were literally washed away within minutes. Two suspension bridges – the lifelines connecting remote communities – collapsed under the pressure, and a temporary camp for workers on a nearby hydro‑electric project was heavily damaged.

"We’ve asked everyone living downstream to move to higher ground," said Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, the senior bureaucrat for Gorkha district, his voice sounding as strained as the situation itself. Residents recall the river, usually a gentle ribbon, turning into a roaring, mud‑laden torrent that thumped against their doors.

Social‑media clips that started circulating showed the river turning an eerie brown, plucking rooftops and cartwheels from the villages as if they were toys. One video even captured a market stall in Salleri Bazaar being ripped from its foundation – a stark reminder of how quickly things can change.

Luckily, there have been no reported fatalities so far. The Nepalese army, together with police rescue teams, air‑lifted six people stranded in the danger zone near Jagat. Another eighteen workers escaped from the hydro‑project camp just before it was engulfed.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) officials urged people in the affected districts to stay alert, pack essential supplies and head for safer areas. Helicopters continue to hover over the flood‑stricken valley, scouting for anyone still trapped.

The Budhi Gandaki is a tributary of the Trishuli River, and its recent upheaval brings back memories of the August glacier collapse that devastated downstream communities, killing over a thousand people. While the current event hasn't caused any deaths yet, the fear of another tragedy looms large.

For now, the focus is on rescue, relief and rebuilding. Local NGOs have set up temporary shelters, and the army is reinforcing bridges where possible. The water level is still rising, however, and authorities warn that the situation could deteriorate further in the coming days.